The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-31
CoNUNDRUMs FOR GEORGE.
Pupils of College Seeking for Light
on His Proposed Reforms.

From the Ne1O York Herald.
An interesting contest took place yester-
day between the intellectual athletes of
Packard's Business College and Henry
George. ."r
Among the invited guests were Capt
Goldman, of Boston; Dr. C. Fl. Shepard, of
Brooklyn; Mr.. H. A. Spencer, Louis Post,
DIR. A. E. Holbrook, Ernest Dichman, Ora
ham McAdam and several ladies.
Mr. Packard opened the exercises by ex-
planning that the pupils had been discussing
the land question and Henry Georges books
for several weeks, but they wanted more
light. They had therefore decided to ask
Mr. George to come and answer questions
with regard to certain of his propositions
which they did not fully understand.
Mr.. George pushed back the table on the
platform and stood in front of il facing
fifteen young lady shorthand stenographers
who were to report him, and 200 students
He said that he was afraid they had not
read his books if they did not understand
his views on the land question.
xviii not your plan be unjust to the own
ers of mortgages~ was one of the questions
propounded.
mot so unjust to them as the present sys-
tenn is to the community"
would not the evils of government own
ownership?
"Oh, no. There is corruption where there
are money, employment, patronage and POI
litical deals. With our land reform these
evils, and perjury growing cut of personal
taxation and the collection of duties, would
be swept away A land tax can be col
lected easier than any other kind of tax
Land is immovable and its value can be
easily ascertained. In this reform no man
need to be poor who is willing to work "
[Applause.l :,
IF people were only tenants of land would
it not tend to discourage improvements
Possibly. But we do not propose to give
the land to the State We would tax it. A
man would hold land and buy and sell it
just as he does now, SO long as he compiled
with the necessary conditions.
Our scheme would make Goulds and
Vanderbilts impossible By striking at the
root Of great poverty you strike at the root
of great wealth. Give public franchises to
private individuals is like giving away high
ways A highway is highway, whether
of rails or cobblestones. Applause Our
revenue system is far more corrupt and
injurious than even the railway system"
"Does not the unearned increment idea
apply to personal propertyp
mo. The building is not as valuable as
it was eighteen years ago, but the ground
on which it stands has greatly increased in
value. A tax on capital can be pushed
aside but tax upon land alone would fall
upon the Spectator"
Mr. George said that his system would let
the present legal titles TO land remain. He
would not tax improvements, but lands,
and raise revenues on the value of land ire
spective of improvements.
"You say that the earth belongs to those
who live on IT, Very well. Adam aud
Eve once owned all the world"
EYES," replied Mr.. George, with light
ming rapidity; land suppose | produced
deed signed by Adam and Eve, giving me
legal title to the earth, would il be right TO
make all the people on the globe pay tribute
TO mep [Great applause.l
"You say we don't need navy or army.
But we sometimes quarrel among our
selves" said pretty girl.
$50 do man and wife sometimes quarrel,
but you would not arm them with reyov-
ers for fear they might fight" Laughter
and applause.l